Method of making wheels



June 4,192 H. A. STODDARD 1,716,013

METHOD OF MAKING WHEELS Original Filed May 27. 1919 INVENTOR:

flarf 17 sfoddarfl Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATE T oFF1c HART STODDARD, OF SAUGATU CK, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO BUICD WHEEIJ COM- IPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF MAKING WHEELS.

Original application filed May 27, 1919, Serial No. 300,060. Divided and this application filed November 27, 1926. Serial No. 151,036.

This invention .relates to an improvement 1 in wheels and the method of making. the

same, and is particularly applicable in connection with metal wheels of the disc type.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 300,060, filed May 27, 1919, patented December 28, 1926, Patent-No. 1,612,074. v An object of the invention is to provide an improved method of constructing wheels of this character.

Further objects of this invention relate to economies of manufacture and details of construction, as will hereinafter appear from the detailed description to follow. I

The objects 0f the invention are accomplished in one instance by the devices and means described in the following specificatidn, but it is evident that the same may be varied widely without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

-A structure constituting one embodiment of the invention, which may be preferred, is

to be advisable to employ additional-secur-v ing means for retaining the rim in position upon felloe of the wheel in addition to shrinking the rim upon the wheel.

In the structure illustrated herewith, por-' tions of the rim are slitted, and after the rim is applied to the felloe of thewheel these .por-

tions of the rim are forced downwardly in the form of lugs so as to enga e with the felloe of the wheel and prevent t e removal of the rim therefrom.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith, 10 indicates an all metal wheel, the main portion of whichis made up V of a pair of metal discs 11 and 12 o positely positioned with respect to each ot er, and upon opposite sides of a plurality of radially positioned spoke members 13, which extend radially from the hub portion of the wheel towards the rim thereof. A substantially circular plate 14 is positioned between the metal disc 11 and the side portions of the radial" braces 13, while 'a corresponding circular plate 16 1s positioned in a slmllar manner between the metal disc 12 and the opposite sides 1 of the radial brace members 13.

In the formation of the felloe portion of the wheel, the oppositely positioned discs 11 and. 12 have the peripheral portions thereof struck out to form oppositely positioned registering channels 18 and 19, and inturned peripheral flanges 20 and 21; A plurality 'of brace members 22 are positioned transversely of the longitudinal plane of the wheel with their ends within the registering channels 18 and 19, each transverse member being provided with flanges 23, seated upon the out-- wardly extending portions of the discs 11 and 12, and aweb 24, which extends between the adjacent edges of the oppositely positioned flanges 20 and 21 was to be substan-- tially flush with the exterior surface of these flanged portions. The flanges 23 of the cross braces 22 may be secured to the outwardly extending portions of the 'discs 11 and 12 by being spot-welded thereto, as indicated at 29. A rim 25 is positioned upon the exterior surfaces of the flanges 20 and 21 and t e projecting web portions 24 of the cross race s,the

said rim being preferably shrunk upon the felloe portion of the wheel thus formed, after the various parts of the wheel have been properly assembled in position relative to each other.

In the securing of the rim to the flanged felloe portion of the wheel, the rim is first slit at points near the edges thereof, as indi- 'cated at 26, in such a manner as to form cuts upon three sides .of lug portions 27, the rim; being fitted to the wheel so as to position the lug portions 27 at spaced intervals throughout thecircumferential surface of the felloe.

These lug portions 27 are so positioned as to be formed a substantially uniform dis tance from the outer edge of the rim at both sides thereof, and may be located substantially opposite to each other throughout the length of the rim. .The operation of slitting the rim in such a manner as to form lugs,

which are separated from the main body portion of. the tire upon three sides, may be pertially in line with the inner edges of the inturned flanges 20 and 21, and the lugs 27 are punched in so as to form inwardly extending projections upon the inner surface of the rim, which engage with the inner edge portions of the inturned flanges 20 and 21 so as to positively retain the tire in position and prevent its removal from the wheel felloe.

It will be understood that the position of the lugs with respect to the rim may be varied as desired in applying rims to different forms of felloe structures, it being necessary only to position the lugs upon the rim in such a manner that the inwardly projecting portions thereof will properly register with and engage suitable portions of the wheel felloe f so as toassist in preventing the removal of the rim from the wheel. This method of securing a rim to the felloe of a wheel of the all metal type provides a simple and eifective means for firmly securing these parts together, and insuring their retention in position at all times and under all conditions of use.

IVhile the method above described is illustrated in connection with a particular type of all metal wheel, it will be understood it is adapted for usein connection with any of the usual form of wheel structures wherein the felloe portion thereof is formed of metal, and upon which a rim is adapted to seat. A wheel of the form described above is particularly adapted for use in connection with trucks, tractors, and the like, where it is necessary to provide a firm and rigid wheel structure.

, While I have shown and described in considerable detail a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this invention as limited to the details of construction illustrated or described, nor any of them, except in so far as I have included.

such limitation within the terms of the following claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention broadly as well as specifically.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i p

1. A method of securing a rim upon a wheel felloe comprising the forming of oppositely positioned projecting portions upon the inner surface of the rim near the e es thereof which a e adapted to engage withportions of the heel felloe to retain the rim upon the wheel.

2. A method of securing a rim upon the wheel felloe comprising the slitting of the rim at spaced intervals to form lugs, the shrinking of the rim upon a wheel felloe, and the forcing inwardly of the lugs to form prfijecting portions engaging with the wheel 3. A method of securing arim upon a wheel felloe comprising the slitting of the rim at spaced intervals to form lugs, and the forcing inwardly of the lugs into engagement with portions of the wheel felloe.

4. A method ofsecuring a rim upon a wheel comprising the 'shrinking of a rim upon the felloe of a wheel, and the forcing inwardly of portions of the rim into engagement with the felloe.

5. A method of making wheels including the following steps: forming a pair of wheel discs, forming a peripheral channel on each disc, assembling said discs with the edges of said channels spaced from each other, mounting a rim on said channel portions, striking a plurality of lugs from said rim extending inwardly between and contacting with said channels.

In testimony whereof he hereunto affixes his signature. 

